How Cells Decide Between X And Y Chromosomes? Explained

How does a cell decide whether to become a mom-cell or a dad-cell? Scientists once thought it was completely random. But experiments with mice showed that an entire organ, an eye, for example, can be mostly mom-cells or mostly dad-cells. It’s not random! It’s a mystery how the cell decides.

Scientists know the X chromosome much better. It’s part of the system that determines whether we become male or female. If an egg inherits an X chromosome from both parents, it becomes female. If it gets an X from its mother and a Y from its father, it becomes male.

But the X chromosome remains mysterious.

For one thing, females shut down an X chromosome in every cell, leaving only one active. That’s a drastic step to take, given that the X chromosome has more than 1,000 genes.

In some cells, the father’s goes dormant, and in others, the mother’s does. While scientists have known about this so-called X-chromosome inactivation for more than five decades, they still know little about the rules it follows, or even how it evolved.

In the journal Neuron, a team of scientists has unveiled an unprecedented view of X-chromosome inactivation in the body. They found a remarkable complexity to the pattern in which the chromosomes were switched on and off.

At the same time, each copy of the X chromosome contains versions of genes not found on its partner. So having two X chromosomes gives females more genetic diversity than males, with their single X chromosome. Because of that, females have a genetic complexity that scientists are only starting to understand.

Video Editor: Team 121 Creators (https://bit.ly/team121x)
Narration: Sidhart Viyapu (https://bit.ly/sidvoice)
Project Head: Rajkumar Shukla
Production: World Of Science Media (https://theworldofscience.co)

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